Sri Karunamayi, also known as Sri Vijayeshwari Devi is my Sat Guru, who came into my life fifteen years ago. She is easily approachable and the kindest soul I have ever met.

Amma Karunamayi says, "I do not come to you as a Guru or as a divine being, a great jnani or Vedanta Vetta, knower of the Vedas. I come to you as your very own mother."

Who is this Mother? She is known as Amma Karunamayi or Sri Karunamayi. How strange it is to introduce this tender mother to her own children!

It is only those who have deep conviction and faith in dharma and who live a dharmic life that can ignite the light of dharma in others. Amma Karunamayi has that power of dharma and the strength of great conviction in dharma. She is not the visible human being. She has come onto the world stage with the goal of spreading the power of dharma and inspiring the hearts of humanity to worship Truth. Her desire is that all human beings should expand the confines of their mind and intellect so that they can refine their inner values, have beautiful relationships, and develop unity. Amma is working hard to bring about an ideal society that promotes the view that divinity means there is only one self-effulgent Light present everywhere and in everything. Amma Karunamayi has melted the arrogance, vanity, pride and negative desires of all the people with her motherly love and affection. She has filled the hearts of all with a glowing light by showing them through her own example that it is possible to live an ordinary life and at the same time develop all the divine qualities.

If we want an ideal society, we have to broaden our understanding, overcome the desire for wars and strive for unity between different nations. Humanity should move forward and blossom by expanding. "In any country in the world where women are respected, the human race there shines gloriously," says Amma, "because every woman is the embodiment of Parashakti, the ultimate, Supreme Energy. If everyone in this world is selfish, the human race will become weak and living in this world will become difficult. Only when more people develop moral strength with spiritual values will society become truly strong and beautiful. That is why all noble people-the ones who make a society strong-should be full of the spirit of renunciation and full of purity of heart," says Amma.

Sanatana Dharma says, "You are Atman; you yourself are Brahman." Only the person who is conscious of his or her inner Self will see the Atman in everyone. He or she will see every living being as 'my atma,' my own self. He or she will be able to love not only every human being, but all living beings. Then, all relationships will shine brightly with sanctity.

Human beings in this world need food to satisfy their hunger and clothes to cover their bodies; everybody needs a roof over their heads to protect them from rain, the heat of the sun and the cold; everyone needs education. "I cannot bear to see anyone without these basic needs-every individual in this world should have education and live with dignity, self esteem and Atma jnana, knowledge of the Self. Everybody should have the experience that they are Brahman. This is my wish," says Amma. "Our goal should be that every individual in this world should have absolute peace and security. Only then will we achieve an ideal and powerful society that will be beautiful." Amma adds, "This is my feeling always and my meditation." A human race full of refined culture cannot be established by any external power or authority. Humanity can obtain real peace only when it is established through dharma.

Amma's reverence and love for Mother Earth is evident in the talks she gives worldwide. "The forests on this Earth are our wealth. Those who protect the trees protect all of us by ridding the atmosphere of pollution and grant us vital air. Trees are the great steps for the welfare and progress of humanity. We should be able to see Divine Mother Earth with her smiling face in the mud and stones of this Earth. Every drop of water that falls on the ground is priceless. It is everyone's duty to preserve water. We can enrich our lives by conserving water and also provide it for future generations," says Amma.

With the hope that everyone will learn to protect the Earth, Amma has started special programs which focus on purification of the atmosphere, preservation of greenery and protection of cows. Amma has distributed hundreds of thousands of trees for planting saying that when Mother Earth is filled with greenery, the forest will grant us life-giving oxygen.

Amma says we should serve the helpless and extremely poor people like they are our very own. She has encouraged the opening of ashrams for the aged. In this manner Amma has greatly inspired many people to perform their duties with determination. She has honored thousands of people who were in great distress and commotion. Her real job is to wipe their tears so their lives can bloom.

In order to develop in us the eternal power of dharma, devotion to the divine and the feeling of surrender through service, Amma speaks inspiring words of courage, which are heart-warming to thousands of people all over the world. Years have passed in such loving connection with Amma as Amma has comforted those who are in great commotion and fear as well as those who are restless with a spiritual thirst. Amma Karunamayi has tirelessly traveled millions of miles to reach thousands of people inspiring them to move forward on a noble path with the feeling that this whole world is one family.

"Your devotion, your faith-your complete faith in the belief that 'I am the pure Atman'-is like an inseparable, indivisible wall of a courtyard. No one's selfish or worldly desires or feelings can cross this wall and enter the courtyard." Such statements awaken and increase our knowledge of Reality, and enhance the willpower and faith in the hearts of those who listen to them. Amma reminds us that the time spent in meditation camps which help us to expand our inward journey are golden times. She says, "We have to behave in a very calm and peaceful manner when calamitous and difficult times besiege us." Through her sincere teachings, Amma dispels the commotion and sorrow that weakens us spiritually. With her sweet words, which are like a cool breeze, she quells the burning sorrow and removes our fatigue. Amma has walked in many peace marches for universal peace. Disregarding any differences in caste, creed or nationality, many have followed Amma's footsteps.

Amma Karunamayi is not a Goddess worshipped in any pitha or temple. Instead, many have seated her on a unique golden throne in their hearts where they worship her with great devotion. Amma is not a sanyasi, an orange robed renunciate. She is respected and honored by people as the unequalled Mother without any bondage, who is beyond all ashramas or phases of life. No matter how many thousands of people revere her, or how high they elevate her, Amma does not show any kind of authority over anyone on any occasion. She says, "I carry the dust particles from the feet of all my children around the world on the crown of my head." No matter in how many palanquins people want Karunamayi Amma to ride, her tender heart never has the desire to ascend any of them.

On the other hand, Amma ascends millions of Meru mountains to attain the paratattvas or supreme truths that are at an unreachable height-that is Amma. She brings them down to our level of understanding. Amma has surrendered herself for the spiritual fulfillment of millions.

All the various human races are Amma's breath. The whole Earth is Amma's home. Her entire spiritual contemplation is focused on establishing dharma in the hearts of people all over the world and impelling them to experience Brahman for themselves. Amma has powerfully and positively impacted the spiritual field in this wide world. Amma Karunamayi's light shines brilliantly as the spiritual leader of the 21st century.

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